Rising CO2 in lakes could keep water fleas from raising their spiky defenses
The greenhouse gas could alter the delicate balance of many lake food webs
SPIKES OUT Tiny lake dwellers known as water fleas (Daphnia pulex shown) raise spiky defenses when sensing predators nearby. But high levels of carbon dioxide in lake waters may dull their senses, leaving the critters open to attack.
Paul Hebert (CC BY 2.5)
Rising carbon dioxide levels could leave some tiny lake dwellers defenseless.